MIT Scientist: 'Alarm over climate change is based on ignorance..
 

April 16, 2007 issue - Judging from the media in recent months, the debate over global warming is now over. There has been a net warming of the earth over the last century and a half, and our greenhouse gas emissions are contributing at some level. Both of these statements are almost certainly true. What of it? Recently many people have said that the earth is facing a crisis requiring urgent action. This statement has nothing to do with science. There is no compelling evidence that the warming trend we've seen will amount to anything close to catastrophe. What most commentators?and many scientists?seem to miss is that the only thing we can say with certainly about climate is that it changes. The earth is always warming or cooling by as much as a few tenths of a degree a year; periods of constant average temperatures are rare. Looking back on the earth's climate history, it's apparent that there's no such thing as an optimal temperature?a climate at which everything is just right. The current alarm rests on the false assumption not only that we live in a perfect world, temperaturewise, but also that our warming forecasts for the year 2040 are somehow more reliable than the weatherman's forecast for next week.
...

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/17997788/site/newsweek/

No way, Al Gore told me otherwise so I'm going to blindly believe him!

In my book, The Wooden Man has no credibility. As Bill Clinton's water boy, he showed no leadership.

:(

Works both ways.

i like sex :)

Susan Sarandon said it's true, so it's true! She knows - she's an important actor!

PROPAGANDA - counting down until some turd shows up and points out that somehow, somewhere the federal government (read: President Bush) gave money to MIT - making any and all science there totally invalid and biased.

Why is it that the scientists that always come out with these "distraction" studies are always funded by Western Fuels and OPEC? Seems a little odd to use someone like that to write a story against the idea of global warming - although his full article doesnt go against it - just says "so what - we'll adapt to it" - but I guess thats why he gets the big bucks to go to the Senate Investigative committee by Bush to try to get more funding for Fuel and coal companies and testify against regulating CO2 - makes total sense

Hmm - actually I would go with the federal government giving funding directly to him - since right at the end of the link posted in the original post thats what it says

This post nor my post had anything at all to do with George Bush. Way to be relevant, champ.

all schools recieve funding from the federal government. it was sarcasm.

people like to point out that its biased based on that fact,... but everyone recieves funding from biased parties interested in the outcome. thats what is moronic about trying to discredit one person or another based on that fact, not to mentiont the study itself ends up being ignored.

You mean how you mock people for blindly believing Al Gore despite the fact that you blindly believe Bush? You're right. Hypocrisy has nothing to do with it.

What makes you think anybody is believing Bush? Can you show me Bush's documentary on climate change? My beliefs on the invalidity of global disaster from man made climate change has nothing what-so-ever to do with Bush. You're just making stuff up and pretending it's true.

Richard Lindzen is a member of the National Academy of Sciences and the Science and Economic Advisory Council of the Annapolis Center for Science-Based Public Policy.

The Annapolis Center for Science-Based Public Policy has received $688575 from ExxonMobil since 1998.

Odd coindidence?



The November 10, 2004 online version of Reason magazine reported that Lindzen is "willing to take bets that global average temperatures in 20 years will in fact be lower than they are now." Climatologist James Annan, who has offered multiple bets that global temperatures will increase, contacted Lindzen to arrange a bet. Annan offered to pay 2:1 odds in Lindzen's favor if temperatures declined, but said that Lindzen would only accept a bet if the payout was 50:1 or better in his favor and that no bet occurred.


Douchewaffle

exactly...

No evidence that when I get into my car I will have an accident. I still wear my seat belt just in case.

For the planet as a whole no. For human existance yes. And to be honest that's what fucking matters.

Of course your are going to post crap that supports your beliefs. I'm sure people that believe that Leprechauns exist and post an article "proving" that.

Sure thing slick. I'm sure you've never blindly believed Bush. :1orglaugh

I honestly don't think I've heard a single thing from Bush in several years. Don't hardly bother to keep up with US politics these days. So basically you've got nothing to say and you're saying it too loud? Got it, thanks.

again... for those who live under a rock. any publically funded organization of any size, recieves grant money and donations from corporations big and small.

http://www.exxonmobil.com/corporate/...blicpolicy.pdf

Dominionists please hurry up your totalitarian government

I won't go into details here, but let's just say I know some people in the upper levels of some high profile government "think tanks" in DC. Don't attempt to tell me how grant money is given because I know. ExxonMobil isn't exactly dishing out money to anyone that asks for it.

yeah... i know. we get it. you're here, on gofuckyourself.com because you are totally wired into washington dc and the inner workings of the political system and connected to people at the highest political and corporate levels and "you know..."

you might as well argue that you saw the answers in a vision while sniffing glue in the desert.

:1orglaugh

Al Gore has that global warming gig all sewn up.
that MIT dude is just going to have to find another gig.

The problem is the Bush admin has gone out of it's way to ignore actual "real" data instead to side with what ever coincides with their current policy.

Global warming, Iraq war, the Space program it really just makes no difference what the topic is, because you just can't trust any info when it comes from someone closely connected to this White house.

Under this White house administration, policy is ruled by big business first and what's good for the country last. History will look back on this current admin and it's power brokers ie Karl Rove and crew as the worst thing that has ever happened to this country.

it won't have very many more administrations to compare it too..

what are they saying? within 20 years people will start REALLY starving and dying?

From there, by 2080 it's going to be a done deal, and the term 'country' won't matter.

But hey! Lets keep and talking about whether or not it will happen

R

Ross Gelbspan, journalist and author, wrote a 1995 article in Harper's Magazine which was very critical of Lindzen and other global warming skeptics. In the article, Gelbspan reports Lindzen charged "oil and coal interests $2,500 a day for his consulting services; [and] his 1991 trip to testify before a Senate committee was paid for by Western Fuels and a speech he wrote, entitled 'Global Warming: the Origin and Nature of Alleged Scientific Consensus,' was underwritten by OPEC." [3]

In November 2004, climate change skeptic Richard Lindzen was quoted saying he'd be willing to bet that the earth's climate will be cooler in 20 years than it is today. When British climate researcher James Annan contacted him, however, Lindzen would only agree to take the bet if Annan offered a 50-to-1 payout. Subsequent offers of a wager were also refused by Pat Michaels, Chip Knappenberger, Piers Corbyn, Myron Ebell, Zbigniew Jaworowski, Sherwood Idso and William Kininmonth. At long last, however, Annan has persuaded Russian solar physicists Galina Mashnich and Vladimir Bashkirtsev to take a $10,000 bet. "There isn't much money in climate science and I'm still looking for that gold watch at retirement," Annan says. "A pay-off would be a nice top-up to my pension." [4]

Ross Gelbspan, journalist and author, wrote a 1995 article in Harper's Magazine which was very critical of Lindzen and other global warming skeptics. In the article, Gelbspan reports Lindzen charged "oil and coal interests $2,500 a day for his consulting services; [and] his 1991 trip to testify before a Senate committee was paid for by Western Fuels and a speech he wrote, entitled 'Global Warming: the Origin and Nature of Alleged Scientific Consensus,' was underwritten by OPEC." [3]

In November 2004, climate change skeptic Richard Lindzen was quoted saying he'd be willing to bet that the earth's climate will be cooler in 20 years than it is today. When British climate researcher James Annan contacted him, however, Lindzen would only agree to take the bet if Annan offered a 50-to-1 payout. Subsequent offers of a wager were also refused by Pat Michaels, Chip Knappenberger, Piers Corbyn, Myron Ebell, Zbigniew Jaworowski, Sherwood Idso and William Kininmonth. At long last, however, Annan has persuaded Russian solar physicists Galina Mashnich and Vladimir Bashkirtsev to take a $10,000 bet. "There isn't much money in climate science and I'm still looking for that gold watch at retirement," Annan says. "A pay-off would be a nice top-up to my pension." [4]

you have to think even if its total bullshit , is it so bad to be less wasteful and help clean up the environment for future generations?

i think that the whole global warming issue, like most other environmental issues is one that forces proponents of the arguments to spend their time defending themselves against reactions to extremism on the same side and attack back, rather than engage in reasonable and rational discussion.

Yep the transaction took place in Area 51.

Scratching my head trying to figure out who told you though.
:helpme

This is what the true scientists are saying.. and many who resigned from the IPCC panel were still included in their reports, even though they didn't contribute or agree with anything in them. There has actually been legal action threatened by some of the world's top scientists because of this. Of course, people will come and yell that this MIT professor is getting paid by the Bush administration to say this crap, just like they always do.. when the fact is in the world of science, if you want to GET funding from the government, you say that global warming is the subject of it, you don't speak out against it.

Oh, and just stating for the record yet again.. global warming is real.. man-made global warming is the myth. We could no sooner stop global warming than stop a tidal wave from hitting.

I agree.

My personal belief is that as a world power and "responsible" nation we must push the limits of technology in terms of the environment harder to "stay ahead". I am all for alternative fuel sources, I am all for keeping lush green forests, I am all for utilizing existing energy even better... what I am against is doomsday stories based on theories that nobody really KNOWS the exact answer to. I am also against unrealistic policies that will never work.

The whole fight over global warming to me is just stupid. There are plenty of reasons to take better care of the environment, despite whether global warming does or doesn't exist. If we focused on those reasons a little more, we may see less arguing and actual action.

No, douchewaffle, I never said I was "wired in". I said I know people who are.
Learn to read.

Lets just all go nuclear! No CO2 emmissions and green house gases!

Discredit this guy you environazis
http://www.physorg.com/news95137021.html

I can't believe people are still arguing about whether or not global warming is actually happening. I'm looking for the Global Warming Guide for Idiots to help sort out the best strategy possible for personal survival. :)

I totally agree - safest cleanest type of fuel out there - I worked in that industry for my career after the military and know first hand how clean it is compared to the rest

<sarcasm> My theory of Global Warming: Its all Paris Hilton's fault! If she would only close her legs, it would end all the global warming! NOW THATS HOT! </sarcasm>

Thats easy:
The predictive scientist:
"On December 3, 2004, Dr. Gray's team issued its first extended-range forecast for the 2005 season, predicting a slightly above-average season"


The result:
"The 2005 Atlantic hurricane season was the most active Atlantic hurricane season in recorded history, shattering previous records on repeated occasions. The impact of the season was widespread and ruinous with at least 2,280 deaths and record damages of over $128 billion USD"

Honestly, to me it doesn't really matter. If they can spin enough hype to get us to start conserving more and treating the planet with a little more respect by telling us the end is coming, then great! Humans are pretty stupid on the whole and sometimes you have to threaten them with a reaaaly big stick to get their attention.

Human caused global warming is not happening, global warming and cooling are NATURAL cyclic events on earth and other planets in our solar system(even Mars is in a warming pattern). Go suck Al Gores dick you mindless sheep.

He got it right it was above average, and the next season was below average, notice a trend?

When contacted, like fellow skeptic Richard Lindzen, he refused to accept any bets as to whether temperatures would drop, even bets that survive the bettors' lifespan by being given to a charitable foundation. (In Gray's case, he stated that as a man in his seventies, he did not want to make bets that exceeded his expected lifespan.)

So what are you doing to help the planet?

Yup, its unfair how bad press nuclear energy has had in the past. I guess most of that is because of chernobyl, where 56 people died directly and estimated total of 4000 in all the following years to this date:
http://www.world-nuclear.org/info/chernobyl/inf07.htm

Compare this with the 50,000 to 120,000 who die every year in USA alone from pollution from burning fossil fuel:
http://www.cleanerandgreener.org/pro.../pollution.htm

The local weatherman cant even get your forecast right do you think they will take bets too? How fucking stupid is that, you enviroNazis have to place bets with scientists because you think you are right. Dumb dumb mindless fucking sheep, go conserve all the energy you want, Ill leave my SUV running all night long just to cancel you little fucktwats out. :1orglaugh

Boy that's ignorant. If you admit that global warming does in fact happen and if you admit that CO2 is a greenhouse that contributes to global warming. Then how can you say that when man puts CO2 into the air is has no effect? Of course it does.

LOL! Another classic thread where StuartD shows how much of a moron he is by making irrelevant statements and then trying to back peddle and make moot-unrelated points that have nothing to do with what the original poster intended.

I too believe global warming is bullshit and for good reasons, none of which has anything to do with Bush's. Matter of fact, I don't even know/care what he thinks. It has nothing to do with politics as much as it has to do with common sense.

No shit. I mean WTF is wrong with switching to compact fluorescent bulbs? Ok not only are you reducing CO2 in the air you are saving money. Who is so stupid that they want to give extra money to the electric company when they don't have to?